This new film, which was just released earlier this year, tells the tale of feminist and political activist Gloria Steinem’s life over a two-decades-long period of time. Steinem is played by both Julianne Moore and Alicia Vikander, as well as two more actresses to portray her childhood and her teenage years. Today at 80 years of Steinhem is one of the most prominent feminists in the western world. She rose to prominence after her major expose on Hugh Hefner.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, after beginning production just a year before. There are not a ton of reviews for the film yet, though it does hold a 73% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, based on just 15 critic’s reviews.
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Sidney J. Furie directs this 1972 film that tells the story of the life of Billie Holliday, portrayed by Diana Ross. It centers around her struggles and heavy drug use, throughout the majority of her young life. Nicknamed Lady D, Holiday had a major influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly by jazz instrumentalists.
The film was produced by Motown Productions, and was based on her 1956 autobiography of the same name. It earned over $9 million and received mostly positive reviews, with Roger Ebert giving it three out of four stars and saying that Ross gave one of the best performances of the year.
First Man (2018)
Ryan Gosling stars as Neil Armstrong in this 2008 biographical drama that tells the story of the astronaut’s years leading up to his 1969 mission to the moon. Initially, Clint Eastwood was scheduled to direct the film back in 2003, though after that fell through, Damien Chazelle picked it up, with Steven Spielberg acting as executive producer. The real man was Neil Armstong who landed on the moon. He spent years training before he landed together with his fellow astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.
Although it had many positive reviews, it flopped at the box office, grossing just $105 million against a $60 million budget. It was nominated for several awards, including two Golden Globes, and winning for Best Original Score.
Bird (1988)
Clint Eastwood produces and directs this 1988 biographical film based on the life of saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker. The film follows the musician’s (played by Forest Whitaker,) life from childhood through his death at the young age of 34. Parker was one of the most highly influential soloists in history and the leading figure in the development of bebop, a form of jazz
The film received mostly positive reviews and holds an 80% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Whitaker earned the award for Best Nctor at the Cannes film Festival in 1988 for his impressive performance in the role, and Eastwood won the Golden Globe for Best Director, among several other accolades the film received..
Flash of Genius (2008)
Greg Kinnear stars in this 2008 film that tells the story of Robert Kearns, an inventor who goes up against the Ford Motor Company in court when they develop a part based on his idea, and work he’d already patented. Robert Kearns an American engineer, educator, and inventor finally got the recognition he deserved for inventing intermittent windshield wiper systems used on most cars from 1969 to the present.
The film opened to mixed reviews and holds a 60% critic’s approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert said it was, “faithful and often moving detail,” while Peter Travers at Rolling Stone wrote, “Kinnear takes the star spot in Flash of Genius and rides it to Glory.” He wound up winning the Best Actor Award at the Boston Film Festival that year.